In the Dominican Republic, heavy rain over the weekend caused at least 21 deaths and forced thousands of people from their homes, according to local officials. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that the rain also resulted in flooded homes, power outages, and damage to bridges and roads. President Luis Abinader described it as “the biggest rain event in the country’s history” and announced that classes in schools were suspended until Wednesday to ensure the safety of students and teachers.
The US embassy stated that the rain, which is a result of a tropical cyclone, is expected to continue in parts of the country on Monday. Most of the 32 provinces in the country are still under red and yellow weather alerts. Among the deceased are four American citizens and three from neighboring Haiti, according to AFP news agency. The landslide that occurred when heavy rain caused the wall of a highway tunnel in Santo Domingo’s capital led to nine fatalities. Additionally, three children also lost their lives due to this tragic incident.